Greek Chicken Skillet Orzo (Printer-Friendly)

A vibrant skillet combining juicy chicken, orzo, olives, and feta for a wholesome Mediterranean meal.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Poultry

01 - 1.5 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 red bell pepper, chopped
05 - 1 yellow bell pepper, chopped
06 - 10 oz frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry

→ Pantry

07 - 1 tbsp olive oil
08 - 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes, undrained
09 - 1 cup orzo pasta
10 - 2 cups chicken broth
11 - 1/2 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and halved
12 - 2 tbsp lemon juice
13 - 1 tbsp dried oregano
14 - 1 tsp dried basil
15 - 1/2 tsp salt
16 - 1/4 tsp black pepper

→ Dairy

17 - 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese

→ Garnish

18 - Fresh parsley, chopped (optional)

# Steps to Follow:

01 - Pat chicken pieces dry and season with salt and black pepper generously.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and sear chicken in batches for 5-7 minutes per side until cooked through and internal temperature reaches 165°F.
03 - Remove chicken; add chopped onion to the skillet and cook until translucent and slightly golden, about 5 minutes.
04 - Add minced garlic, red bell pepper, and yellow bell pepper, cooking for 5 minutes until peppers are tender-crisp.
05 - Pour undrained diced tomatoes into skillet followed by the drained spinach, stirring to combine.
06 - Stir in orzo, chicken broth, dried oregano, dried basil, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce to low heat, cover, and simmer for 15-20 minutes until orzo is tender and liquid absorbed.
07 - If orzo is not fully cooked and liquid has been absorbed, add chicken broth in 1/4 cup increments and continue simmering until orzo reaches desired tenderness.
08 - Return cooked chicken to skillet, add Kalamata olives and lemon juice, and gently stir to combine and heat through.
09 - Remove skillet from heat and sprinkle crumbled feta cheese over the dish. Allow it to rest for a few minutes to soften the feta.
10 - Optionally garnish with chopped fresh parsley before serving.

# Helpful Hints:

01 - For a more intense lemon flavor, add lemon zest along with the lemon juice. Substitutions include chicken thighs or vegetarian alternatives by omitting chicken and adding vegetables or legumes.
02 - To increase moisture and flavor, cook chicken thighs to 175°F internal temperature.
03 - Adding a splash of dry white wine after cooking onions and peppers enhances complexity.

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